Altec Lansing Taps Apogee Technology To Deliver Industry's First All-Digital Sound Systems

Altec Lansing To Combine Micro-Driver Speakers With Apogee DDXÆ Digital Amplification To Deliver PC And Home Theatre Solutions To The Retail Market

9-Feb-01

Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc., the leading developer of PC audio solutions for the retail and OEM markets, announced the first line of all-digital sound systems utilizing Direct Digital Amplification (DDXÆ) from Apogee Technology, Inc. (OTC-BB: APGT), a leading developer of digital amplification technology. Available in spring 2001, these all-digital Class D sound systems will offer higher sound quality than comparable analog systems while using less power.Building on its expertise in delivering integrated speaker/amplifier audio solutions, Altec Lansing will integrate Apogee's patented DDX technology with a new micro-driver speaker system to create the first true digital-to-digital sound solutions for PC and home theatre. Altec Lansing will utilize DDX digital amplifier solutions developed by the ALST Technical Excellence Center - an independent research and development venture supported by Altec Lansing and STMicroelectronics, based on chip support and development by STMicroelectronics, a leading semiconductor company. By integrating the chips together with the micro-speakers, the need for an external amplifier is eliminated, reducing system size and the cost of multiple components.Direct Digital Amplification (DDX)DDX preserves digital audio sources because the design does not convert the digital signal to analog before amplification. DDX directly amplifies the digital audio, eliminating the need for and cost of a digital to analog converter (DAC). This approach removes potential analog signal corruption and quality losses that occur in traditional audio systems. In addition to superb sound, DDX-based amplifier solutions provide nearly twice the efficiency of comparable analog amplifiers. This eliminates the need for external heat sinks, thus reducing space and manufacturing costs. ""Altec Lansing's leadership in delivering integrated digital audio solutions and speaker manufacturing makes the company ideal to deliver the first DDX-based products,"" said David Meyers, Vice President of Business Development, Apogee Technology. ""By combining DDX digital amplifiers with their unique micro-speaker technology, Altec Lansing has established the next generation of all-digital speaker systems, with universal applications in the home and workplace.""""Altec Lansing is proud to be the first company to deliver this breakthrough digital amplification technology in an all-digital sound system,"" said Tommy Freadman, President and Chief Technology Officer, Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. ""DDX allows for sound quality previously unattainable in a system this size and at this price.""Altec Lansing will deliver both PC and home theatre DDX-based solutions to the retail channel in April, including a 2.1-channel and 4.1-channel system for each market. A 5.1-channel system for each market will be added later this year.For additional information about Altec Lansing, visit www.altecmm.com.

Read More:
http://www.altecmm.com